Action-research and role-reversal-informed creation of a Zoom breakout room guide for e-CIIC mediators

Dr Thuy Thi Ngoc Bui is Deputy Head of the External Affairs Office at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on multilingualism, critical literacy, teacher agency, and the relationship between language and education policies and socio-economic equity and she has published journal articles and book chapters on these topics. Besides her academic positions, Thuy works as a community project manager for projects funded by the U.S and Australian embassies. Her projects focus on ELT training for teachers and enhancing academic and personal development skills and engagement for disadvantaged minority people, community leaders, and local activists. Thuy was Co-Principal Investigator on project ViVEXELT.

Mrs Jenny Wells has worked in the field of ELT since 2007 and has taught English for a range of purposes including EAP (English for Academic Purposes), ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes, aviation English). Since 2018 she has been working as a tutor in EAP at Coventry University, a position she took up after completing her MA in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (ELTAL, awarded with distinction), also at Coventry. Her interests include intercultural communication and the promotion of those skills with her students in the classroom. Jenny is an Oxford University graduate and pursued a career in business, primarily in the field of logistics, before moving into teaching. She frequently draws on her business experiences to inform and enhance her teaching practice. Jenny was appointed as the UK research assistant for ViVEXELT and also took part in a COIL-VE project as a student while on the MA ELTAL.

Mr Andrew Preshous is Assistant Professor in Academic English at Coventry University and Course Director for the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) provision in Humanities and Business and Law. He has taught English in many different contexts and countries and has created a popular module on Business English for the MA in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. His areas of interest include subject-specific materials design and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). He has written articles on EAP, Business English, COIL and is co-author of a coursebook (IELTS Foundation). He took part in ViVEXELT as e-mediator and assessor of the lesson plans based on the Sustainable Development Goals collaboratively designed by the participants on the VE.

Dr Thi Thom Thom – Nguyen is Lecturer in English Language Teacher Education at University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University – Hanoi, Vietnam. She is also an academic consultant in teacher professional development projects, including Community-based educational models, Innovation in Education, Emotional intelligence and Education policy. Her research interests include Teacher education, Professional development and Language policy. She has presented in numerous national and international conferences as well as publishing journal articles and book chapters on these topics. Dr Thi Thom Thom Nguyen Thom was an academic consultant for the ViVEXELT (Vietnam Virtual Exchange for English Language Teaching) project, funded by the British Council and supported by the Vietnam National Foreign Languages Project team.

Mrs Farida Butt is an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutor and a part-time lecturer of English language at Coventry University. She used to be, until 2022, manager for the English provision at the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre. Farida’s work at the refugee centre gave her the opportunity to work with people who are seeking asylum, refugees and migrants, wanting to better their lives. She was born and bought up in Coventry and lived in Italy for over 18 years, where she taught English to students from ages 3 to 18. Farida completed the MA in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistic programme at Coventry University as a part-time student in 2022, and based her dissertation on project ViVEXELT, with a focus on the role of e-mediators in breakout rooms. She participated in ViVEXELT with the dual role of manager at the Refugee and Migrant Centre and participant/e-mediator on the VE.